Will the Saints make a push to re-sign Mark Ingram?

By Jeff DuncanNOLA Media Group, New Orleans

Monday

Mar 11, 2019 at 6:38 PMMar 11, 2019 at 6:38 PM

The courtship of Mark Ingram began Monday.

On noon Monday, the New Orleans Saints second all-time leading rusher started to entertain offers from other NFL teams. It shouldn't take long for Ingram and his representation to determine just how interested teams are in his services.

A handful of teams -- the Baltimore Ravens, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers, among others -- are expected to be suitors.

There's a glut of running backs on the market, so Ingram will need a team to really fall for him to land what is likely to be his last decent NFL pay day.

The former Heisman Trophy winner has said repeatedly that he would like nothing more than to finish his NFL career in New Orleans, and Saints officials have indicated they'd like to have him back, as well. But for how long? And at what cost?

Those key questions remain unanswered as the Saints begin the player procurement phase of the 2019 season.

Each year the Saints brain trust, led by head coach Sean Payton and general manager Mickey Loomis, compiles a To-Do list of personnel priorities. They group the list into three tiers: musts; needs; and wants.

As good as Ingram is and as well as he has played for the Saints throughout his career, it would be difficult to prioritize him as a must.

The Saints have far greater needs than running back, especially with Ingram's sidekick, Alvin Kamara, taking over as the lead back last season.

Since joining the Saints in 2017, Kamara has rushed for 1,611 yards and 22 touchdowns with only two fumbles. His 5.1 yards-per-carry average ranks among the best in the NFL and in team history.

Ingram is good. Kamara is special. As long as he's around, the Saints' running game will be fine.

Ironically, Kamara's emergence as a bona fide star actually lessens the value of his good friend and backfield mate in New Orleans.

When the Saints signed Ingram to a four-year, $16 million deal in 2015, he was a "must" signing. Now, with Kamara on board, he's simply a "want" on the To-Do list.

false

Saints should resist urge to overspend in 2019 free agency

It's time to start looking toward the future.

Ingram will turn 30 in December, and that's a threshold age for NFL running backs. The drop-off in productivity and health for runners in their 30s has been well-documented over the years.

You can count on one hand the number of Saints backs that have played and produced into their 30s.

The list of Saints backs that have rushed for more than 500 yards in a season at age 30 goes two deep. Earl Campbell gained 643 yards at age 30 in 1985. Twenty years later, Antowain Smith gained 659 yards in 2005 at age 33. Both players were essentially one-year, stop-gap rentals. Both retired the following seasons.

Deuce McAllister and Aaron Stecker produced 400-yard rushing seasons in 2006 and 2007, respectively. Both retired within a year or two.

And that's basically the history of productive Saints running backs in their 30s.

The reality is running back is a young man's position. The weekly physical pounding eventually takes its toll and robs players of their speed and explosiveness, even physical freaks like Adrian Peterson and Marshawn Lynch.

And while it's true that Ingram has shared the rushing load with various backs for most of his eight-year career, the fact remains that his 1,321 carries are the second most in Saints history.

And the Saints could find a younger, cheaper back to handle the 13 touches per game Ingram averaged last season. Dwayne Washington and/or a rookie back could adequately fill that role for half of what Ingram will cost.

So while pursuing Ingram in free agency, the Saints would be wise to not engage in a bidding war for him. They need to proceed with caution. His value to other teams could outweigh his value to them.

The Saints have proven over the years that their offense can survive and thrive regardless of who's in the perimeter corps. The club has moved on from Reggie Bush, Jimmy Graham, Darren Sproles and Brandin Cooks and has continued to amass points and yards with the best offenses in the league.

In a perfect world, the Saints would re-sign Ingram to an affordable deal and solidify their backfield for the next two years while Kamara remains on his rookie deal. But if he signs elsewhere, the Saints will be just fine.

At this stage of his career, Ingram's re-signing is a want rather than a must.

And as long as the offensive line is elite and Drew Brees is under center, the Saints offense will remain prolific, with or without Mark Ingram.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.